As an extremely busy person, like most of us in college are, I frequently eat frozen microwavable meals when I’m in a rush. While they’re certainly convenient, unfortunately they usually tend to disappoint. Eating a microwavable meal is almost like a grieving process, as you slowly watch your hopes of having a delicious meal crumble. There are five steps in the grieving process, and they can totally apply to the disappointment that is eating a microwavable meal.
1. Shock and denial – When you first take your previously frozen meal out of the microwave, you find yourself hit with a wave of shock. “But the picture on the box made it look so good!” you think to yourself. What looks like a delicious meal on the box, turns out to be a sad, smaller version in real life.
2. Anger – Soon the shock turns to anger, as you eat your bland and unappealing meal. You may wonder, “Why me? I’m a good person, I don’t deserve this. I donate to Knight-Thon and buy Girl Scout cookies. This shouldn’t happen to people like me.” Your anger increases as you think about all of the other delicious food you could have been eating.
3. Bargaining – As the anger begins to subside, you make a deal with yourself – if you finish eating your meal, you can buy Lazy Moon for dinner. A reward for the sad lunch you had to deal with.
4. Depression – Here is when the sadness kicks in. You’re nearing the end of your meal, but you still feel hungry and slightly empty inside. You become quiet and contemplate the existence of microwavable meals.
5. Acceptance – Finally, you reach acceptance. You think to yourself, “It’s going to be okay. I will get through this.” What really gets you through the grief is the thought of eating Lazy Moon for your next meal – a shining light at the end of a dark, depressing tunnel.
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